RELEVANT
FOCUSED
READY

Benefit or Burden? The Impact of Body-Worn Cameras on Police Officers'
Operational Efficiency
Tara Javaheri

Introduction

Discussion

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) have gained widespread adoption in law
enforcement worldwide, starting with their first known use in the
United Kingdom between 2005 and 2006 (Boivin & Gendron, 2022).
These devices aim to document interactions between law
enforcement personnel and the public while on duty, offering benefits
such as improving police accountability and safeguarding officers from
false accusations of misconduct. However, the impact of BWCs on
police officers' daily operations remains underexplored. While BWCs
are seen as a way to improve evidence collection and transparency,
their potential to either enhance operational efficiency or add
bureaucratic and technological challenges remains unclear.

My study revealed several challenges related to BWCs and their
impact on policing, shedding light on both the strengths and
limitations in the available resources. Access to insights from Sgt.
Ingram was instrumental. Additional resources, such as the JIBC
library and Writing Center, were invaluable in refining my research,
while the structured guidance from my instructor, Kelsea, helped
manage the workload of this complex project. Despite these supports,
the project faced challenges, notably due to the limited time frame,
which restricted the depth of analysis on such a complex issue.
Additionally, a critical limitation was the scarcity of Canadian-focused
research on BWCs, especially concerning officers’ personal
experiences. Canadian studies primarily cover pilot programs rather
than long-term impacts, making it difficult to draw comprehensive
conclusions. Reflecting on these gaps, I would prioritize conducting
primary qualitative research if given more time and resources.

Background
The Delta Police Department in British Columbia, as the first agency in
the province to implement BWCs, offers key insights into the practical
benefits and challenges of BWC integration. During a discussion with
Sgt. Ingram, the department's BWC coordinator, it became clear that
while BWCs have improved evidence collection and increased
transparency, they also present challenges such as the need for
transcriptions of video evidence for court use and the administrative
burden of video retention and legal compliance. These challenges
raise the question: do BWCs contribute to operational efficiency, or do
they add additional workload and complexities? My research is
motivated by these real-world challenges and tries to focus on police
officers’ experiences and perspective.
Methods
I used secondary data to examine the impact of BWCs on Canadian
police officers’ operational tasks. Due to limited research in Canada
and varying adoption of BWCs across departments, my study also
incorporates literature from the U.S. and other countries with more
extensive use of this technology. A qualitative approach was chosen to
analyze existing studies, case reports, and data on BWCs in Canadian
police forces. Secondary research was necessary due to time
constraints and allowed for a review of available literature. I
conducted a search through the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s
(JIBC) library, focusing on databases like “Criminal Justice Abstracts,”
“JSTOR Journals,” and “eBook Index.” I also used government reports,
guidelines, and cross-referenced sources via Google Scholar.
Results/Findings
Research shows that BWCs enhance internal accountability by
reducing incidents of force and citizen complaints, as officers behave
more appropriately when they know they are being recorded (Stanley,
2015; Ariel et al., 2020). However, BWCs often fail to provide external
transparency, as footage cannot be released to the public until a case
is closed, which may take years, undermining their potential to build
public trust (Guzik, 2020). While BWCs promote accountability within
departments, their delayed release limits the public's ability to
understand police actions in real-time, questioning their impact on
trust. The introduction of BWCs has sparked mixed reactions among
officers. Some see them as helpful tools for professionalism, but
others view them as invasive surveillance devices that can affect
morale and privacy (Boivin & Gendron, 2022). The constant
monitoring created by BWCs may lead to a sense of mistrust among
officers, which could result in "de-policing," where officers limit their
proactive policing to avoid negative evaluations (Ariel et al., 2020).
Research suggests that, with proper support, BWCs can balance
accountability and efficiency without hindering officer performance.
Despite the benefits, BWCs also present operational challenges. While
they improve report accuracy and ensure adherence to protocols,
managing and reviewing the footage requires significant time and
resources (Guzik, 2020). Smaller police departments struggle with the
costs of purchasing and maintaining BWCs, and the need for secure
data storage adds to the burden (Boivin & Gendron, 2022). Privacy
concerns also arise, as recording sensitive interactions raises ethical
dilemmas about misuse of the footage (Guzik, 2020). Additionally,
some Canadian agencies, such as the RCMP, remain hesitant to adopt
BWCs due to uncertainties about their effectiveness and lack of
federal financial support (Guzik, 2020).

Conclusions or Recommendations
To address the knowledge gaps surrounding BWCs in Canadian
policing, further research specific to Canadian law enforcement is
essential. Studies focusing on Canadian contexts will help to capture
the unique challenges and benefits Canadian agencies face and
provide a clearer picture of how BWCs integrate into local policing. A
qualitative approach in future studies, such as interviews and surveys
with officers, would bring critical insights into their experiences,
showing how BWCs impact their daily tasks, time management, and
overall job satisfaction. Such research could reveal the practical
challenges that BWCs may pose, like the administrative demands of
managing footage, and explore effects on officers' well-being, jobrelated stress, and even their sense of autonomy or accountability on
duty. Developing clear policies on BWC use is crucial, alongside robust
training that helps officers understand legal implications and manage
this technology effectively. My research suggests that thoughtful
integration of BWCs can enhance public trust and procedural justice
while supporting officers’ operational needs.
References
Ariel, B., Mitchell, R. J., Firpo, M. E., Fraiman, R., Hyatt, J. M., &
Harinam, V. (2020). Does surveillance of officers lead to depolicing? Police on Camera: Surveillance, Privacy, and
Accountability, 3.
Boivin, R., & Gendron, A. (2022). An experimental study of the impact
of body-worn cameras on police report writing. Journal of
Experimental Criminology, 18(4), 747–764.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-021-09469-8
Guzik, K. (2020). Can we count on the police? Definitional issues in
considering the promise of body-worn cameras to increase police
accountability. Police on camera (pp. 64–79). Routledge.
Stanley, J. (2015). Police body-mounted cameras: With right policies in
place, a win for all. American Civil Liberties Union,
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cnmcsplcng/cn34517-eng.pdf
• Transparency
for the public
is limited

• Brings
logistical and
financial
challenges
Enhances
internal
accountability

Influences
officer and
public
behavior

Improves
report
accuracy

Impacts
officer
perceptions
and morale

• Imposes a
heavy
administrative
burden

• Psychological
concerns of
constant
monitoring

Note. Key findings and trade-offs of body-worn cameras

Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Law Enforcement Studies

Justice Institute of British Columbia

November 2024